Scholarships:

Do you have enough $$$$ for college?

Important Dates/Events:

Financial Aid Workshop - Aiken HS Library- TBA

• Reservations Required
• See Mrs. Strojan
• Cost is FREE

South Carolina Annual Scholarships:

 Department of Education: http://ed.sc.gov/topics/scholarships/

The South Carolina Department of Education administers scholarships and grants for students to pursue college in the state.  Visit the website listed above to get more information about the application process and deadlines.

The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship: was established with the intent of encouraging academically talented students to study at colleges and universities within the state. Candidates must be enrolled in a four-year degree. Recipients may receive up to $6500 per academic year.

The LIFE Scholarship: provides tuition awards to academically motivated students. The program was established to assist more talented students and offer incentives to study within the state. Awards are renewable and students must earn GPAs of 3.0 along with other academic criteria. This program is partially funded by the state lottery.

 The South Carolina HOPE Scholarship: is a purely merit-based program that provides tuition awards to those academically talented students who are not receiving other merit scholarships. Recipients must attend a school within the state. The program is only available for the freshman year.

The federally funded Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship: recognizes the efforts of the most academically talented high school seniors. This merit-based program provides dozens of students from South Carolina with $1500 scholarships. The program is renewable for an extra 3 years of undergraduate study. Eligible students must hold GPAs above 3.5, top ACT/SAT scores and demonstrate leadership qualities. School officials typically nominate their Byrd Scholars. Only those already accepted into full-time four-year college and university programs may receive awards.

The South Carolina Junior Scholars Program: was developed by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) during the 1985–86 school year to identify eighth grade students with exceptional academic talent and to develop strategies for inclusion into special programs.

The South Carolina Education Lottery Program: funds the SC Lottery Tuition Assistance Program. State lottery games such as those found in SC are required to provide funding for all levels of state education. Applicants must be attending a two-year state institution.  

Scholarships by Specialized Program:

Unique to South Carolina is the Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Foundation: provides a merit-based program for arts-centric students. Applicants compete in areas of visual art, music, writing and other creative forms of expression in pursuit of $5000 scholarships.

High school students with an interest in teaching and who demonstrate academic talent may qualify for the South Carolina Teaching Fellows Program: candidates must attend a state college or university teaching program and agree to work as teachers in underserved schools following graduation.

 The South Carolina Tuition Grants Program: is a need-based fund intended to put more SC students into independent state college or university programs. Applicants must apply by filling out the FAFSA. The amount of the award is dependent on the type of institution the student attends.

To find additional college scholarship information and applications, seniors should contact Mrs. Strojan in the counseling office or by contacting the financial aid office of the institution to which you have applied.